Sri Gopala Bhatta Goswami

Sri Gopala Bhatta Goswami was the son of Vyenkatta Bhatta, a brahmana resident of
Sri Rangam, who was initiated in the Sri Sampradaya. The city of Sri Rangam is
located on the Kaveri river in the district of Tanjor about ten miles west of
Kumbhakonam.
Regarding this temple Sri Bhaktivedanta Swami remarks as follows. "The Sri Rangam
temple is the largest in India, and there are seven walls surrounding it. There are also
seven roads leading to Sri Rangam. The ancient names of these roads are Dharma,
Rajamahendra, Kulashekhara, Alinadana, Tiruvikrama, Tirubidi and Ada-iyavala-
indana. The temple was founded before the reign of Dharmavarma, who reigned
before Rajamahendra. Many celebrated kings like Kulashekhara and others such as
Alabandaru, resided in the temple of Sri Rangam. Yamunacharya, Sri Ramanuja,
Sudarshanacharya, and others also supervised this temple."

According to Bhaktivedanta Swami, "Sri Vyenkatta Bhatta was a Vaishanva

brahmana and an inhabitant of Sri Rangakshetra. He belonged in the disciplic
succession of Sri Ramanujacharya. Sri Rangam is one of the places of pilgrimage in
the province of Tamila-desha. The inhabitants of that province do not retain the name
Vyenkatta. It is therefore supposed that Vyenkatta Bhatta did not belong to that
province, although he may have been residing there for a very long time. Vyenkatta
Bhatta was a member of a branch of the Ramanuja Sampradaya known as Badagala-i.
He had a brother in the Ramanuja Sampradaya known as Sripada Prabodhananda
Saraswati. The son of Vyenkatta Bhatta was later known in the Gaudiya Sampradaya
as Gopala Bhatta Goswami and he established the Radha-ramana temple in
Vrindavana. More information about him may be found in a book known as Bhakti-
Ratnakara (1.100) by Sri Narahari Cakravarti."

The Gaura-parshada-charitavali describes the life of Gopala Bhatta Goswami as

follows. The merciful Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu, in order to deliver the souls of this
world, as well as to distribute krishna-prema everywhere, walked throughout the
length and breadth of South India and moved from place to place inundating every
town and village with the nectar of the divine name. Drinking the nectar of the holy
name from the lotus mouth of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu Himself, thousands and
thousands of men and women who were burning in the desert of material existence,
quenched their thirst. Thus their lives were freed from the burning of material life, and
their souls were cooled. Day after day, the fallen people in general drank the nectar of
Krishna's holy name and thus attained life's supreme treasure.
In order to shower nama-prema far and wide like a great thundercloud, Sriman
Mahaprabhu came to stay for some time at the great holy place of Sri Rangakshetra.
Sri Ranganath's huge and expansive temple is so tall that it appears to reach the
heavens. That great temple has seven huge walls. Millions of devotees come to see
that deity every year. Within the temple, the brahmanas are constantly chanting the
glories of Sri Ranganatha.
When Sri Gauranga Mahaprabhu entered that temple and began chanting Hare
Krishna in kirtan, his song was far sweeter than that of millions of Gandharvas.
Everyone was stunned and astonished, and the hairs of their body stood on end. His
divine figure was wonderful to behold, and his bodily radiance was dazzling. From his
lotus eyes showered torrents of tears of Krishna-prema. The brahmanas wondered, "Is
he a god? Is such a manifestation of ecstasy possible in a man?"

Again and again exhorting everyone to chant the holy name, saying, "Haribolo!
Haribolo!" he was drowning in the tears that poured from his lotus eyes, as he fell
before the deities like a tree that has been cut down. Everyone thought that Sri
Caitanya Mahaprabhu appeared like a golden mountain that had fallen to the earth.
Sri Vyenkatta Bhatta, detecting in Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu the symptoms of a
Mahapurush, a great personage, could not contain himself as he saw the Lord
performing sankirtan. His heart leaped with joy as it became filled with bhakti.
Pushing his way through the crowd, he joined the kirtan party and lost himself in
dancing and singing the holy name of Hari with the Lord. When the Lord had
regained his external consciousness somewhat and had steadied himself, Vyenkatta
fell in the dust of his lotus feet and asked the Lord for his mercy. The Lord, saying,
"Krishna! Krishna!" heartily embraced him. At that time, Sri Vyenkatta invited the
Lord to stay with him in his home during the four months of the rainy season.
At his home Vyenkatta Bhatta washed the Lord's lotus feet and drank the holy water.
In this way there was great joy within the home of Vyenkatta Bhatta.

The above has been briefly described in the Caitanya Caritamrita as follows (ML
9.79Ñ86):

papa-nasane vishnu kailo darasane,

shri-ranga-ksetre tabe karila gamana
kaverite snana kari dekhi ranganatha
stuti pranati kari manila krtartha
premaveshe kaila bhauta gana nartena
dekhi camatkara haila saba lokera mana
shri vaishnava ekaÑvyenkatta bhatta nam
prabhure nimantrana kaila kariya sammana
nija-ghare laya kaila pada praksalana
 sei jala kaila sa-vamse bhakshana
bhiksha karaya kichu kaila nivedana
caturmasya asi prabhu haila upasanna
caturmasya kripa kari raha mora ghare
krishna-katha kahi kripaya uddhara amare
tanra ghare rahila prabhu krishna-katha rasa
bhatta-sange gonaila sukhe cari mase.

"After visiting the holy place named Siva-ketra, Caitanya Mahaprabhu arrived at
Papanashana and there saw the temple of Lord Vishnu. Then He finally reached Sri
Ranga-kshetra. After bathing in the river Kaveri, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu saw the
temple of Ranganatha and offered his ardent prayers and obeisances. Thus He felt
Himself successful. In the temple of Ranganatha, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu chanted
and danced in ecstatic love of Godhead. Seeing His performance, everyone was struck
with wonder.
One Vaishnava known as Vyenkatta Bhatta then invited Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu to
his home with great respect. Sri Vyenkatta Bhatta took Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu to
his home. After he washed the Lord's feet, all the members of his family drank the
water. After offering lunch to the Lord, Vyenkatta Bhatta submitted that the period of
Chaturmasya had already arrived. Vyenkatta Bhatta said, ³Please be merciful to me
and stay at my house during Chaturmasya. Speak about Lord Krishna's pastimes and
kindly deliver me by your mercy.² Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu remained at the house of
Vyenkatta Bhatta for four continuous months. In this way, the Lord passed His days in
great happiness, enjoying the transcendental mellow of discussing Lord Krishna's
pastimes."

In the year 1511, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu stayed at the house of Vyenkatta Bhatta.
At that time Vyenkatta Bhatta lived with his two brothers, Prabodananda Saraswati
and Trimalla Bhatta. At that time, Sri Prabodhananda Saraswati was a tridandi
sannyasi of the Ramanuja Sampradaya and Vyenkatta Bhatta and Trimalla Bhatta
were also Vaishnavas in the Ramanuja Sampradaya. Vyenkatta's son was Gopala
Bhatta. At the time of Mahaprabhu's visit, he was only a child. When the little boy
offered his respects at the feet of Sri Caitanya, the Lord picked him up and held him
on his lap, affectionately embracing the boy. Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu used to call the
boy and give him the remnants of his prasadam. By giving him his prasada in this
manner, he was blessing Gopal Bhatta Acharya to become a great acharya in the
future.

The Lord arrived in Sri Rangam during the time of Chaturmasya. At that time he
stayed in the house of Vyenkatta Bhatta. In Sri Rangam live many Sri Vaishanvas.
Seeing the manifestation of divine sentiments in Sri Caitanya, however, many of them
were converted, for they experienced the nectar of Krishna-prema. Every day, one
brahmana Vaishnava after another invited the Lord to take lunch. In this way, during
the four months of Chaturmasya, the Lord accepted many invitations, and still could
not honor all the invitations of the many Vaishnava grihasthas who wanted to show
their hospitality to the Lord.
The Lord stayed at the house of Vyenkatta Bhatta. Every day, Sri Gopala Bhatta
would serve him personally. At that time, Sri Caitanya instructed Vyenkatta Bhatta on
the position of Lakshmidevi and the worship of Lakshmi-Narayana versus the position
of the gopis and the worship of Radha-Govinda. The Lord preached these points to
him in a humourous style, laughing and joking in a clever way. The Lord said,
"Bhatta! Your Lakshmidevi is the crest jewel of chaste ladies. My Krishna is a gopa-
boy who herds cows. Why does she want to be with Krishna?"
Vyenkatta Bhatta said, "Krishna and Narayana are one and the same. Krishna is one
of the forms our Lord takes in order to enjoy pastimes of a clever and sporting nature.
There is no violation of Lakshmidevi's chastity if she takes an interest in Krishna - he
is one and the same with Narayana. This is not in contradiction with any religious
principles. Therefore why do you joke with me in this way?"
The Lord said, "What you say is true. But tell me, why is it that Lakshmidevi
performs great penances to attain Krishna, but cannot do so? On the other hand, the
Upanishads also performed penances to attain Krishna and did so. How is it that the
Upanishads succeeded in entering Vrindavana and getting Krishna's association where
Lakshmidevi failed?"
Vyenkatta said, "I cannot understand this at all." At this point he said, "You are
Krishna Himself. You know the meaning of your own pastimes. Only those who you
choose to enlighten can understand all these things. If you enlighten me, then I can
also understand them."
At that time, Sri Caitanya explained that Lakshmidevi wanted to remain in her
position as the opulent goddess of fortune in Vaikuntha and at the same time enter
into the pastimes of Krishna, where sweetness and beauty are superior to power and
opulence. This is not possible. Only those who follow in the footsteps of the gopis and
the residents of Vrindavana can attain such a position. The Upanishads succeeded
where Lakshmidevi failed because they followed in the footsteps of the Gopis.
Before this explanation was given Vyenkatta Bhatta thought that Sri Narayana was the
Supreme Personality of Godhead. Thinking in this way, he believed that the worship
of Narayana was the supreme form of worship. Mahaprabhu understood his
misconception and corrected it through joking about it. After this, Vyenkatta was
convinced of the Supreme position of Krishna and Vrindavana, and converted to the
cause of Gaudiya Vaishnavism, although he was raised in the Ramanuja Sampradaya.
He offered his respects at the lotus feet of the Lord and the Lord embraced him.
In this way, the Lord spent the four months of the rainy season at the home of
Vyenkatta, discussing many things about Krishna and His pastimes. After this, he bid
farewell. The happy home of the Bhattas was plunged into tears. Gopala Bhatta
fainted at the Lord's lotus feet. The Lord gave some consolation to Gopala Bhatta
saying, "Now you must serve at the home of your mother and father. Later, you must
come to Vrindavana. There you will constantly hear and glorify the holy name of Sri
Krishna." In this way, after instructing the whole family, Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu
went on his way.

Within a short time, Sri Gopala Bhatta Goswami learned Sanskrit grammar, poetry,
rhetoric and became expert in all the scriptures, beginning with the Vedanta sutra. His
uncle, Sripad Prabodhananda Saraswati instructed him extensively in the different
bhakti-shastras. His scholarship was unparalleled.

After he had been blessed by having darshan of the lotus feet of Sri Gauranga, Gopal
Bhatta Goswami's mind was always absorbed in thoughts of the Lord's lotus feet. He
began thinking, "When will I again obtain a vision of the Lord?"
Day and night he posed this question in his mind and could think of nothing else. And
yet, he thought, "I cannot just give up my aging father and mother and go away." In
this way, some time went by. At length his mother and father arrived at their final
days. They called Gopala Bhatta to their side and said, "Boy, after we pass away, you
must go to Vrindavana and take shelter of the lotus feet of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu."
Taking the order of his mother and father on his head, Gopala Bhatta went to
Vrindvana, always remembering the lotus feet of Mahaprabhu.

When Gopala Bhatta arrived in Vrindavana, he found that Rupa Goswami was
preparing to send messages with some devotees from Vrindavana to Sri Caitanya
Mahaprabhu in Puri. Sri Rupa and Sri Sanatana Prabhu already knew that Gopala
Bhatta would be coming to Vrindavana. Sri Rupa and Sanatana greeted him and
treated him like a brother. From that time on, their lifelong friendship began.

When the messengers arrived in Puri, Mahaprabhu was happy to receive them. He
heard from them of how Gopala Bhatta had come to Vrindavana. He sent the
messenger from Vrindavana back to Rupa Goswami with the kaupin and outer
garments of the babaji order, to be given to Sri Gopala Bhatta Goswami as symbols of
his renunciation. Sri Rupa received these things with great joy. Sri Gopala Bhatta
Goswami accepted the loincloth and dress of a babaji with great happiness,
considering it to the Lord's mercy and prasada. In this way he went on. He was very
close to Rupa and Sanatana. He would pass his nights at different kundas, and spent
all his time studying the shastra and writing.
Sri Gopala Bhatta Goswami had twelve shalagram shilas. He used to keep them in a
cloth bag hung round his neck. Still, he had a mind to worship the Sri Vigraha of the
Lord in his deity form. At this time a rich man went to see Sri Gopala Bhatta
Goswami. Having seen him, he was very happy. Eager to serve, the rich man offered
some fine cloth and ornaments for the service of the Lord. Sri Gopala Bhatta placed
these things before his shalagrams. The wealthy man bid Gopala Bhatta goodbye.

That night, Sri Bhatta Goswami offered aroti and bhoga and put his shalagrams to
rest, covering them carefully in a basket. At last, late that night Gopala Bhatta after
performing different kinds of bhajan, took some prasada and went to rest. The next
morning he bathed in the Yamuna. When he went to wake his shalagrams and opened
the basket, he saw, in the midst of the shalagrams, something divine. One of the
shalagram shilas had become a full-fledged deity of Krishna with a three-fold bending
form, who stood there looking very beautiful.
Seeing the unprecedented beauty of this deity, Gopala Bhatta's happiness took the
shape of a great ocean in which he was diving and surfacing. Offering his full
dandavats to the deity, he began offering different hymns and prayers to the Lord.
Hearing this beautiful language, Sri Rupa Goswami and Sri Sanatana Goswami, as
well as the other Vaishnavas and Goswamis, quickly went there and saw the world-
enchanting beauty of the deity as tears of divine love flowed from their eyes and wet
the earth. In the year 1599 of the Christian era, on the full moon day of Vaishakha,
this deity form of Krishna became manifest. The Goswamis named this deity, "Sri
Radha-ramana-deva."

After a time, Sri Gopala Bhatta Goswami went to a town called Devavandya Gram in
Saharan Pura near Haridwara. There he was received with great delight by the
residents. One day, he was on his way to the house of a devotee near the edge of the
town. In the afternoon, there was a great storm. On the road was the house of a
brahmana in which Gopala Bhatta took shelter. This brahmana was very devoted to
Krishna. He saw to the needs of Sri Bhatta Goswami with great care. Sripad Gopala
Bhatta Goswami was very happy. The brahmana had no son. Gopala Bhatta blessed
him, saying, "May you have a son who is a great devotee of Krishna." The brahmana
then said, "I shall give you my first son to engage in the service of Krishna as you see
fit."

Sri Bhatta Goswami stayed in Saharanapur and preached the holy name of Hari for a
few days before returning to Vrindavana. At that time he went to the Gandaki river
and retrieved twelve shalagram shilas from the river. One of these shalagramas was
the one from which the deity of Radha-ramana-deva later manifest himself.

Almost ten years past since this time. One day, Sri Gopala Bhatta Goswami went to
take his noon bath in the Yamuna and afterwards returned to his kutir to perform his
bhajan. From a distance he culd see a young boy sitting in the door of his hut. When
the boy saw Sri Bhatta Goswami he arose and offered his obeisances at the Goswami's
feet.
Sri Gopala Bhatta asked him, "Who are you?" The boy said, "I am from Devavandya
Gram in Saharan Pura. I have come from there."
Bhatta Goswami said, "Who is your father? Why have you come to me?" The boy
said, "My father has sent me here to engage in your service. My name is Gopinatha."
With this, Gopala Bhatta remembered his previous conversation with the boy's father,
in which the brahmana said he would give the Goswami his son to engage in the
service of the Lord. After this time, Sri Gopinatha served Sri Bhatta Goswami with
great attention and regard.

Subsequently that boy became known as Sri Gopinatha Pujari Goswami. He remained
a brahmachari and served the Radha-ramana deity up until his death. Eventually his
younger brother Sri Damodara Dasa took mantra initiation from Sri Gopinathaji and
also engaged in the service of Sri Radharamana. Sri Damoadara Dasa had three sons,
Harinatha, Mathuranatha and Harinama.

Sri Gopala Bhatta Goswami served his beloved Radha-ramana deity constantly,
remembering the words and teachings of Sri Caitanya Mahaprabhu. While serving in
this way, the eyes of Gopala Bhatta were often filled with tears of divine love that
flowed like torrential rain.
Whereupon Sri Radha-ramana deva bestowed upon Sri Bhatta Goswami a divine
vision of Sri Gauranga Himself. "When Sri Bhatta Goswami was overwhelmed by
Krishna-prema, Sri Radha-ramana revealed himself as Sri Gauranga deva." Bhakti
Ratnakara 4th Taranga.

Sri Gopala Bhatta Goswami gave mantra-diksha to Srinivasa Acharya. Srimad

Sanatana Goswami composed Hari Bhakti Vilasa in collaboration with Gopala Bhatta
Goswami, who edited the work. Sanatana Goswami had such great affection for
Gopala Bhatta Goswami that he even published the book under his name. Sri Gopala
Bhatta Goswami was responsible for originating the six thesis of Sat Sandarbha later
elaborately developed by Sri Jiva Goswami.
Jiva Goswami writes in the beginning of his Tattva-Sandarbha: "A devotee from
South India who was born of a brahmana family and was a very intimate friend of
Rupa Goswami and Sanatana Goswami has written a book that he has not compiled
systematically. Therefore I, a tiny living entity called Jiva, am trying to assort the
events of the book systematically, consulting the direction of great personalities like
Madhva, Sridhara Swami and Ramanujacharya."
Gopala Bhatta Goswami has written a foreward to Jiva Goswami's Sat Sandarbha. He
wrote a commentary on Krishna-Karnamrita. He also wrote Sat-Kriya-Sara Dipika, a
guide to Vaishnava samskaras and rituals for birth ceremonies, sacred thread
initiations, marriage ceremonies, sannyasa, and funerals etc. In addition to this he
composed many other scriptures.

In the Gaura-Gandodesha-Dipika, Sri Kavi Karnapura Goswami writes:

ananga-manjari sadya gopala bhattakah

bhatta goswaminam kocidahuh shri guna manjari

"In my opinion, that person who in Vrindavana was Ananga Manjari is now Gopal
Bhatta Goswami. Some authorities, however, have given their opinion that he was
Guna Manjari."

Sri Gopala Bhatta Goswami was born in the year 1503 of the Christian era on the 13th
day of the dark moon in the month of Pausha. Srimad Gopala Bhatta Goswami lived
within this world for 75 years. In the Christian year of 1578 on the sixth day of the
dark moon, Sri Gopala Bhatta Goswami left this world behind and entered into the
eternal pastimes of the Lord.

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